Railway signal-torpedo.



I F. BUTCHER. RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. H, 1915.

PatentedNov. 2, 1915 COLUMBIA PLANoclzAlfl-I 120., WASHINGTON. D. c.

TD srATEs PATN FFTE i FRANK BUTCHER, or VERsAIILLEs, PENNSYLVANIA, .Ass' eNoa TO CENTRAL RAIIP WAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A coRPoRATIoN' or" NEW JERSEY.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORPEDO.

To all whom it may concern .Be it known that I, FRANK DUToHEit, a

I citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal Tor-pedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to' the accompanylng drawing.

This invention relates to improvements with clamping ears for firmly clamping the I outer fold of the case in its folded position.

so that it can not become displacedeither in shipment or in handling. 7

Referring now to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a paper or fiber case torpedo with my improved spring clasp attachment applied thereto and the torpedo shown in position on the railroad-rail. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the torpedo case opened up before the folds are in their permanent, folded position.

The type of torpedo case to which my improvement is applied is known as the wedge shape form, and it is made from a blank of sheet paper. The central body portion is forced outward into a wedge-shaped portion 1, which forms on the inner side thereof a recess 2. Within this recess 2 the explosive 3 is placed, and this explosive is of the tablet form. This central portion 1 of the torpedo case is provided with end flanges 4, and the sides of the central portion 1 is provided with the two side flaps 5 which are turned inward as shown in Fig. 4 over the explosive 3. The flange 4, atone end of the central portion, is provided with an end flap 6 which is of a length and width substantially corresponding to the length Specification of Letters Patent.

and width of thecentral. portion 1 and flanges 4. The flange 4 at the other end of i i the central portion, is provided with an end flap 7 ,and thisendflap 7 v is also of a length and width substantially corresponding to the Patented Nov; 2,'1915. Application filed January 11, 1915; Serial No. 1,630. I r I My present improvement comprises a plate 8 which is applied to the innerside of the end fold or flap .7, and connected there, to by the ears9 which are bent around on the outer side of the flap 7 and compressed tightly thereon, thus uniting the plate Sto the fold 7. The plate 8 and f0ld 7 are.pro-

vided withv registering openingslO made of a. size to receive the sprmgcl'asp l1, and.

the plate between these openings" is bulged outward as shown at 12 Fig. 3. to permit the spring clasp to bethreadedthrough these openings-as shown in Fig.4. f A

After the plate 8 is applied to the flap? and the spring clasp threaded through the openings 10, the plate and flange, are folded inward -over the side flaps 5, and they are suitably'cemented together by a water-proof cement. Then the flap 6 is folded on'the outer side of the flap 7 with cement between 1 them, and ears 13 at the corners of the flap 7 are bent over against the outer side of the flap 6 and tightly clamped thereto which form clamps holding the folded portions of the case: in their proper positions a and against displacements. These ears-13 come under the corners of the flanges 4 which are located at points'beyond. the explosive 0 so that there is no danger of exploding the charge when the ears 13 are forced downward tightly against the outer side ofthe flap 6. If desired, the flap 7 may be provided with one or more perforations 14, and 9 these perforations will serve the double function of pockets for the cement and lightening the plate. If desired, the spring clasp, 11 maybe provided with an intermediate opening 15, and the bulged portion 12 with the projection 16 adapted to enter this opening for the purpose of centrally positioning thespring clasp 11. With an attachment of this construction, the ends of the spring clasp 11 can be separated to be placed around the tread of a railroad-rail without separating the folds of the case, and this is important because any separation or breakaway of the folds of flaps of the case opens up passages for water and moisture, thus materially destroying the effectiveness of Water-proof protection which is absolutely essential in railway signal torpedoes to meet the specifications and requirements of the railroad companies.

Having thus described my invention what Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved railway signal torpedo comprising a case made up of over-lapping flaps, a plate applied to the inner side of one of said flaps, the plate and flap having openings for the passage of a spring clasp, the plate also having marginal ears adapted to be bent down in contact with the flap for holding it in position thereon.

2. An improved railway signal torpedo comprising a case, having a central portion adapted to receive an explosive charge, two end flaps adapted to be folded inward over the explosive charge, a spring clasp attaching plate applied to the inner side of the inner folded flap, the flap and plate having openings through which a spring clasp may be threaded, the plate having ears which are bent down against the outer side of the outer flap for the purpose described.

3. An improved railway signal torpedo comprising a paper case having a central portion adapted to receive an explosive compound, the central portion having two end flaps adapted to be folded inward one over the other and under the central portion, a spring clasp attaching plate applied to the inner side of the inner end flap, said inner flap and plate having registering openings to receive a spring clasp, said plate also having ears bent on the outer side of last said flap, the plate having marginal ears which are bent downward 0n the outer side of the outer end flap thereby holding all of the folded flaps in their folded positions.

4L. An improved railway signal torpedo, comprising a case made up of overlapping flaps, a plate applied to the'inner side of one of said flaps, the plate and flaps having openings for the passage of a spring clasp, the plate having means for securing it in position thereon. p

5. An improved railway signal torpedo, comprising a case made up of overlapping flaps, a plate applied to the inner side of one of said flaps, the plate and flaps having openings for the passage of the spring clasp the plate having ears adapted to engage the flap for holding it in position thereon.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signaturev in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK DUTCHER. WVitnesses:

G. M. LEONARD, R. WV. JUNKER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents. Washington, D. 0. 

